25 Records have been releasing compilation CDs on a pretty frequent basis for a few years now. Often the CDs contain a number of songs by bands who clearly want to be famous, and play a commercialised variety of 'indie' music, or an assortment of other mainstream-influenced styles. Other songs just strike me as bland. Don't stop reading yet though, this label is worth watching out for, as their comps frequently include several gems. I've discovered some really good bands from 25 Records CDs.

I've reviewed releases from this label in past (paper) issues of Aq, but since then I've received five compilations from them. They also release singles and albums by just the one band, and I have a CDEP by Moth Conspiracy, which has three tracks of good indiepop tinged with darkness. This is well worth a listen.

25's latest release is an album by Dr Jan (Guru), called Alienshamanism. This is electropop, sometimes of the New Romantic variety, but mixed with dance beats and quirky/spacey electronic noises. Flamenco Luminoso is dance with Spanish guitar. Some tracks have guest vocals from John Taylor. Mainly a bit too electro and a bit too dancey for my taste, but this should be worth a listen for anyone who likes electronic music that has an individual twist but still manages to be pretty commercial much of the time.

25 Records are known for often having cover pictures that vary from mildly suggestive to downright rude. Their Ooer, Missus compilation CD features breasts and buttocks on the cover, complete with an arrow that looks like the person is about to be operated on. Rather an inappropriate picture for most of the music that's on it. Highlights include The Holsteins, Popshop and Garfield's Birthday, all of whom do great indiepop; Curious Oyster, who make dreampop that's very similar to a band I remember from the early 90s, Whirlpool Heart; and Marine Time Keepers - brill, Sarah-esque, delicate indiepop.

Some of the standout tracks on Olive's Army are by Spotless, The Holsteins and Choker, all indiepop with noisy bits; Curious Oyster, who appear here with more of their Whirlpool Heart-like dreampop; Grasp, whose track here is one of their more poppy ones; Garfield's Birthday, whose track here is darker and more distorted than their usual material; and Doris, whose contribution is an impressive slice of indie-rock.

One Two Blow's cover features a woman in a T-shirt that says 'Blow-Up Doll' and has one of those attachments that you blow into to inflate... My favourite tracks on here are by Firedaze (indiefied folk-rock); Stoker and Addano (both doing variations on the indiepop theme); Plastik (quirky guitar-based music a bit like Cud or a more indieish Sleepy People) and Deckchair (dark pop with an 80s touch).

Off The Hook only has the one song that really stands out for me - Luv Buzz by Osmosis, which is excellent punk-tinged noisepop. Well, there is another track that stands out, but for all the wrong reasons. This is Women's Rights by Parkstone Dub Foundation, which simplifies what the Suffragettes achieved, and is disparaging towards women in general. Women with brains and self-respect will find this extremely offensive.

The most recent compilation is Out Of Order, and features, amongst others, more punkpop from Osmosis; quirky pop from Wolventrix; indiepop from The Trimatics, The Expressions, Plastik and Riser; slightly off-centre indie-rock from Herrod; powerpop from The Shopliftingangels and mystical sounding, psych-tinged rock from Shiver Slinky. It's also worth mentioning that there's a band called Conspiracy here, who are not to be confused with The Conspiracy, who have been well known in the fanzine scene for some years. The band here play a sort of 80s-ish, indiefied soft rock. Also worth mentioning is the appearance of a band called The Visitors, who don't appear to be the 80s band who have recently had a compilation of their material released on CD by Matinée.

So whilst not everything on their comps is great, the good stuff is worth checking out. For a taster of this label you can send £2 postage and packing to Mark Rigler at 25 Records, PO Box 3006, Poole BH12 2HU, for a free copy of one of their compilation CDs. Further info from info@25records.com

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